Structural defects in Building Survey for house purchase- HELP!

iwb100

thearchitect said:

There are good surveyors and there are bad surveyors, just as there are in every other profession.  Consequently there are good surveys, and there are bad surveys.   To claim that they're all of very limited assistance is simply silly.  Moreover a good surveyor on a decent fee will usually be willing to talk through issues post-survey and provide a client with a steer on the priorities for action.

A simple example is a slate roof, especially in England and Wales where (for some reason) you think that sarking board isn't necessary.   Once a roof hits 100 years it's at the end of its life but depending on quality of fixings, how they are nailed, and how well it is maintained then you might get another thirty years.   The only way to tell is to get up on the roof and start turning/checking/lifting.  Anyone competent undertaking a survey, be they architect or surveyor, therefore flaggs this up as a risk.

Another problem is that lay people just don't really understand construction issues.  Felt flat roofs are a low quality product with a designed lifespan of just 10 to 15 years, yet I lose count of the time I have to explain this to people.  Cheap uPVC windows also have a limited lifespan but people seem to expect them to last 30 years, and so on.

Damp is one area, however, where I think surveyors are lazy - relying simply on a reference to "specialists".  

Agreed. As for felt roofs - old felt roofs are - new ones with commercial grade mats can last and should last a lot longer. 

thearchitect

Not unless you got for a high quality single ply membrane such as Sarna, which should give you 20 years plus.  Or lead, of course. 

snowcat75

thearchitect said:

There are good surveyors and there are bad surveyors, just as there are in every other profession.  Consequently there are good surveys, and there are bad surveys.   To claim that they're all of very limited assistance is simply silly.  Moreover a good surveyor on a decent fee will usually be willing to talk through issues post-survey and provide a client with a steer on the priorities for action.

A simple example is a slate roof, especially in England and Wales where (for some reason) you think that sarking board isn't necessary.   Once a roof hits 100 years it's at the end of its life but depending on quality of fixings, how they are nailed, and how well it is maintained then you might get another thirty years.   The only way to tell is to get up on the roof and start turning/checking/lifting.  Anyone competent undertaking a survey, be they architect or surveyor, therefore flaggs this up as a risk.

Another problem is that lay people just don't really understand construction issues.  Felt flat roofs are a low quality product with a designed lifespan of just 10 to 15 years, yet I lose count of the time I have to explain this to people.  Cheap uPVC windows also have a limited lifespan but people seem to expect them to last 30 years, and so on.

Damp is one area, however, where I think surveyors are lazy - relying simply on a reference to "specialists".  

I still standby what I say,
The issue isn't necessarily that surveyors are not doing there job, But its in the manner there sold...
A survey is far from gospel and if buyers had a greater understanding of how building and structures work they would know that..
I could name and I'm sure you would agree there are many areas of a building where unless you become invasive and get the tools or shovel out you have no idea of the integrity and soundness of that particular part...

As long as buyers are aware of these facts then all would be OK, but I really think many believe paying £400 and a tyre kicking walk around will either mean good or bad on a house and this simply isn't true. 

Buyers should educate themselves on basic building matters (and these days its really easy to do so).. ..... But I also think that those selling the surveys have also over sold just how useful they are.
There's also the covering nature that's arisen from the blame culture, so reports are written to cover themselves rather than the realistic benefit of doubt nature.  

fozfoz

Thanks all. very useful information!!
Our first place was a relatively new house, so we expected some issues with a house of this age. But to expect to replace a lintel so one of the walls doesn't collapse and also a new roof wasn't part of the plan! We're going to go back to the seller and discuss lowering purchase price as with the estimated repairs costing upwards of a 6 figure sum it just doesn't make financial sense from a return in investment point of view......even if this does have the potential to be our forever home